We require a full-time social work coordinator to meet the needs of the service.We take flexible working into consideration, in line with service demands, however this is an office-based role. Job overview: An exciting opportunity has opened within Independent Futures where we have created a specialist Leaving Care Service for children and young people aged 16-25 years old. Islington is looking to recruit a Young Persons Advisor (YPA) who is motivated and passionate. You will be trained in Motivational Interviewing and Trauma Inform Practice to ensure sustainability of practice across the service. As a YPA you will be responsible for working with care experienced young people, whilst maintaining the focus on safeguarding. You will work directly with young people and their family or carer to build empathetic, purposeful relationships that facilitate meaningful and sustainable change, as well as stability in placement and permanency for children. You will share and exercise the organisational practice ethos which places Motivational Practice and trauma-informed practice at the heart of working with families. You will be ambitious for every young person to reach their potential in all aspects of their development including education, health, and emotional wellbeing from 0-25. Main duties: Our vision for the service is that children and young people are safe, can overcome difficulties and can form secure relationships through their childhood and into their adulthood. As a YPA, you will manage the specific set of tasks relating to statutory case responsibility for care experienced young people in need of help and protection and in public care, with the support of an appropriately qualified supervisor. You will also support in developing and maintaining a culture of trauma-informed practice that helps to improve the quality of relationships with children and young people, through Motivational Practice. Some of the main duties include: Deliver an efficient and effective leaving care service to young people Assess risk and devise multi-agency plans for young people Multi-agency and partnership working Review pathway plans Quality and timely recording Build meaningful and positive working relationships with young people Visit young people and their networks Support placement stability and permanence Advocate for and ensure the voice of young people is heard Engage proactively in the supervision process Formulate plans based on assessments and partnership working The successful candidates will have the following: Experience working with care experienced young people Experience in statutory settings Excellent organisational and IT skills Outstanding written and oral communication skills Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to form meaningful and positive relationships Trauma-informed and motivational interviewing skills Analysis and problem-solving Reflective and empathetic Working for Children Services: In December 2024, we underwent a full OFSTED inspect. Although we are still awaiting formal feedback, we are pleased and proud to share we have maintained our outstanding rating. In October 2023, Independent Futures received a focused visit from OFSTED looking at the Local Authority’s arrangements for care experienced children and young people (care leavers). We proudly share some highlights from the report: Young people are effusive about Independent Futures, Islington’s leaving care service. Care experienced children and young people in Islington benefit from teams of highly committed, ambitious and determined professionals who work extremely well together, helping the children and young people to remain safe and to achieve in life. Exceptional and aspirational corporate and operational leaders work together to listen to care experienced young people, to understand their world and to act on their views. Islington’s motivational practice model ensures that all staff and many partner agencies provide trauma-informed assessments. The genuine warmth of staff and their affection and pride in children’s progress and achievements are evident in their direct work and frequent contact and visits. Staff report that they feel valued by their managers. This improves and supports practitioners’ emotional health and well-being. Skilled social workers and YPAs are appropriately proud of their work. Good opportunities for development, training and promotion are increasing the number of staff transferring from agency to permanent contracts. A localised approach to commissioning housing support means that young people can maintain local links and have access to important local services, such as colleges, employment and training opportunities that will support them to achieve independence. The Independent Futures Service is well resourced and enjoys a stable and supportive workforce. You will be joining a multi-professional team made up of experienced managers, Senior Social Workers, Social Workers, Young Person Advisors, Mental Health Social Worker, CAMHS professionals, a UASC specialist and Social Work Coordinators. We have opportunities to consult with clinicians and you will receive supervision and manage support from a Senior Social Worker. Our children, young people and their families are at the heart of everything we do and the development of our practice model allows us to them towards their version of meaningful and sustained changed. Islington’s Motivational Practice Model provides an integrated care, safeguarding and change model, which includes Motivational Interviewing skills helping to build meaningful relationships and promote safety, collaboration and purposeful change. What is Motivational Practice? Motivational Practice is Islington’s Practice Model. There are core elements that underpin the practice framework that provide a set of skills around how to communicate in a helpful way with workers that you supervise, the professional network as a whole and families we work with, supporting a process of change. Our practice model is further complemented by Trauma-informed practice (including Dyadic Development Practice), as we believe that by better understanding the lived experiences of those we are here to serve, we are better positioned to engage, support and assist children and young people to reach their full potential. Relationships are also central to achieving the very best outcome for our children, young people, their families, and their carers. We work closely with our fostering team and placements service to support our carers in offering a trauma informed approach to care, and to offer stable placements where our children and young people can achieve their potential. For further information or for an informal conversation about the post, please contact Independent Futures Team Managers: Mehmet Krasniqi [email protected] 020 7527 8585 / 8561 About You Working for the team, service and our organisation Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t be clearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future. We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive. To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about. Our offer to you We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include: Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum Excellent local government pension scheme Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more! Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised. Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination. We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues. We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage. We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace. Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington. Safeguarding We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service. The post is subject to a enhanced DBS check with children barred list, qualifications check and 3/5 years referencing. Disability Confident Scheme Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.